Expression device for mechanical musical instruments.



Patented .T'uly 13, 1909.

1 2 SHEETS-SHEET' 1.

Inv e n t o r James .0, 'Cannon By tty J. OGONNOR.

EXPRESSION DEVICE POR MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.8, 1904. REEWED DEO. 9,1908.

J. OICONNOR.

EXPRESSION DEVICE FOR MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 8, 1904. RENEWBD DEO. 9,1908.

Patented July 13, 1909.

Ivm/antoin- By mig UNITED sTArEsPATENT OFFICE.

JAMES OCONNOR, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

EXPRESSION DEVICE FOR MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

Specicationof Letters Patent.

Patented July 13, 1909.

App'ncaaoa :ned august 8,1904, serial No. 219,841. Renewed December s, 190s. serial N. 466,637.

ToV all 'whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES O'CONNOR, a

Acitizen of the United States, and resident of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Expression Devices for Mechanical Musical Instruments, of which the following is va full, clear, and exact'speciication. e

This invention relatesy to mechanically yoperated musical instruments of the class in which the motive force for causing the notes to sound is pneumatic pressure developed by bellows or similar means operated or con'- trolled by the performer.

The invention consists in improved means for varying at will either suddenly or slowly, the intensity of the pneumatic pressure, so that the notes may be sounded loudly or softly, and thereby overcome the monotony so common in music produced by mechanical me 3DS Although the invention is applicable to4 either pressure or exhaust apparatus, it is hereshown 1n connection -With a mecha-meal piano player in which the piano keys are 'devices of the instrument, and is provided with springs, which tend to expand it against the pressure of the outer atmosphere. When' the amount of air drawn 'from the actuating devices into the reservoir bellows is in excess of the amount Withdrawn by the pumpers, t'ie bellows expands by the `action of the springs, and thus gives increased space for t-he excess of air supply. On the other hand, when the amount of air admitted is less than the amountadrawn out by the pumpers or supply bellows, the springs yield and permit the reservoir bellows to contract, thus pre- 'venting the creation of an excessive vacuum.

An approximately uniform tension or degree of vacuum is thus' continually maintained within the reservoir bellows in 4spite of the ordinary irregularities in, the pumping, 4or of ordinary variations in the amount of air auf.

A capacity of the pumpers.

bellows is collapsed than when the bellowsis expanded, thereby producing slight and gradual variations in the loudness of the notes. But this ordinary constructionndoes not permit of obtaining such instantaneous and pronounced changes in the vacuum as are required for sharply accenting one note as compared with the note which immediately precedes it, the intended and characteristic function of the equalizing. reservoir being to prevent these very changes. i

Inthe present invention means are provided for instantaneously cutting the equalizing reservoir out of operation at the will of the operator. In the embodiment shown and described herein, a substantially noncollapsible and non-equalizing chamber is .employed in conjunctionwith the pneumatic system, and preferably remains at all times connected with the pumping bellows or. exhausting means, thus providing a moderate extent of permanent storage area. This special chamber may, however, be omitted it a sufficient `non-collapsible area is otherwise provided in connection with the neumatic *syst-em. The collapsible equa izing` reservoir, which may be of the customary bellows construction, operates in the ordinary way when connected with the system, to equalize the tension. equalizer is cut out of operation the pumpers are enabled to increase the tensionin the chamber to any desired degree, up to the Provision is also preferably made iv ereby the yequalizing function of the bellows will be automatically restored to the pneumatic system, whenever the vacuum therein falls below the -minimum predetermined by the tension of the equalizer springs.

Figure 1 is -a sectional side view of part of Va -mechanical piano player showing one embodiment of the invention, the section being taken on the lines l-l of Figs. 2 and Fig. 2 is a sectional rear view of part of Fig. l, the sect-ion being taken on the line 2-2 of Fi 4. 1 Fig. 3 is a plan view of Figs. l and looking at right angles to the line 3-3 of 265g.- l. Fig. 4 is a partialsectionalside view .and shows a modiiied form of the invention.

But when the' CTI .preferably made sov that one or more of the Fig. 5 is a 'side view of another modified form. Fig. 6 is a sectional rear'view of part of Fig. 5, the section being taken on the line 6-6 of Fig.. 5, looking in the direction of the arrow. Figs 7 and 3 are side views in sec-i tion of'further modicatio'ns of the' invention.

The two pumpers or su ply bellows 15 which exhaust the air from t e apparatus are constructed in any usual manner andy are, op erated by pedals 13, worked by the feet of the performer and connect/ed to. the pumpers 15by the straps 14. The partition 17 vforms the stationary leaf of the pumpers and forms also one side of the intermediate 'airchamber 18., The opposite side of the wind chamber consists of a anel 21 which forms the stationary leaf the reservoir or equalizer bellows 19.' This bellows is of the usual type and is provided with springs 20 tending to press I.it open. The intermediate chamber is substantially non-collapsible, although itv is' sides will spring inwardly under high tension to va suflicient extent to soften the more abrupt changes', `and obviate harshness of. contrast. The panel 21 is separated from the partition 17 along its upper portion by the top 23 and at its lower pprtion by blocks 56, of which there are preferably two, located at ,opposite ends ofthe panel. rlhe bottom i 54 and the ends 55- of the chamber 18 are formed of leather or some suitably flexible material, which for convenience in manutan-- ture may be a continuation of the bottom and. sides of .the store bellows 19.' The'p'artition 17 isprovided with the usual valve leather 16, thus enabling the pumpers to ex,y haust'the chamber 18' in a manner similar to the customary method of exhausting the reservoir bellows. A assage 24 lconnects the chamber 18 with t e wind chest of the actuating devices, which may be of any wellknown'. construction, and are so'well under? sto'od that a descriptionof them is here un'-, necessary.- Anopenin 25 is formed in theI panel 2l and is provi ed with a'valve 26 which is normally held open against the ac- :tion of the s ring 27 by the wedge' 31, ar- I,

and cairsingan instantilowerin'g of the presranged to sli e on the panel 21 betweenthe; gibs 32. The valve 26 is' provided with anarm 28. which-rests upon the straight portion' 34 'of the wedge when. the latter is in its low?4 est-position,.thus keeping the -valve open and.. permittingthe airto' pass freely throughthe opening 25 fromfthechamberto' the bellows and vice versa.'

The wedge lever 36; Which-*lit thcfwedgefand 1i.

graads .enr-@ugh ma jamsapp'aaes1ty theI panel 21 and the partition `.The/outer endwoffthe lfulcrurnv '33 carriesp-an'arm 39 which is connectedIby'fthehrod -42- (F ig. 2)` with the vvertical arm 44` ofthe rock shaft 43 supportedon the casing'l 1 of the instrument.

y48 (Fig. 1). on its un'der side and keeps it normally above The rock shaft carries a horizontal arm which is connected at, its enten-end to `the button rod .49 on top of which is the button A spring 50 engages the button the level of the top 12 of the instrument, `thus holding all the parts in their inoperative position, the wedgel 31 being .at its lowest y position so as to hold the valve 26 open. With the vparts in this position the store bellows 19 operates as usual, and approxi- 'mately equaliZesthe vacuum byrmeans of lthe spring '20, expanding and contracting according to the variations in the pedaling and the' fluctuations in the amount of air drawnjin through the actuating devices.'

The actionin this case is the same asvif the bellows 19 were connected directly with the pumpers 15,v as in the usual construction, without the intervention of the chamber 18.V

rIhus bypedaling rapidly, aslightly increasing tension may be obtained. On theother hand, by pumpin .slowly or ceasing entirely, `a slightly ecreasing tension is obtained as the bellows expands.

lf the-button 48 be depressedto the aposition shownl in Fig. 1, the mot-ionimparted to the rock shaft 43 will swing the arm 39 and the lever '36 sowas to'raise the wedge 31 and release the lifter. 28, thus allowing the .spring 27'to close the valve26and cut offthe communication between the bellows 19 and the chamber 18. A very high tension maynow be instantly obtained inl the chamber 18,.

since the small capacit and noncollapsing even less, of one of the pumpers, the greater air pressure inthe bellows 1.9 keeping the valve 26 tightly closed. f, If now the button. 48 be released, a low vacuum will be instantly providedfindependent of the action of the pumpers, since the'bu-tton spring 50 will at once'open the valve 26 by moving the wedge 31 downward so that the beveled surface 33 vcarries the valve arm 28 outward to the flat surface 34, thus putting the bellows 19 again into communication with the chamber 18,

,sure byjequalizing it .chl-the two sides of the panel 21'. Slowerg` pedaling -also create the pedals, without-'necessarily releasing the button to return; to' anyldesiredlower ten'- sion. i

In sorderto vpreclude the Vpossibility of the bellows 19 everbeing expanded and lcharacter of the cham er venables it to be quickly exhausted by a stroke or perhaps therefore inoperative when called into use,

the small packages 57 in'- the posts 56' are provided, through which the pumpers will always act to some extent on the ellows 19, since their connection is entirely' independent of the chamber 18 and the valve 26. Thus unequal pressure on itsH opposite sides, re-

l the block turning at once 4to its original position as soon as the inequality disappears This' elasticity is an important feature since 1t compensates for irregularities in the pumping, and thereby materially' contributes to the smoothness of the action.

In the modified construction shown in Fig. 4 the valve 66 and its spring 67 are similar to those ofthe former figures. The valve y is operated by a barv 69 which slides endwise through the partition 17 and engages the valve on its under side through the opening 25. It is connected to the button 4S by means of the rod 79 and the arms 73 and 75 'secured to 'the pivot 74 mounted in theI bracket 76 secured to the casing 11. It may operate directly on the valve 66, or if desired, a small reliefflap 68 may, as shown in this ligure, be provided for the valve 66 to ease the opening action by reducing the area of resistance in caseof an extreme diiierence in pressure oni the two sides of the valve. The initial movement of the rod 69 opens the small iiap 68 and at once relieves the pressure, the continued movement of the rod carrying the valve to its normally opened position. A pin T0 in the bar 69 extends across the small flap opening and engages the under side of the `main valve 66 as soon as the iiap 68 has opened sufficiently.

i ln the modified construction shown in F ies. 5 and 6 the hinged valve is replaced by a silider 86, which is carried in a block S7 se`- cured to the panel 21. Openings 89 are formed in the 8T. Similar openings are formed in the slider and are so disposed as to coincide with the openings 89 when the 'slider is in its wide open position, thus per mitting free communication between :the chamber 18 and the bellows 19. To one end of the slider 86 is attached the rod 90 which passes through the top 91 oll the bellows and is connected to the bell-crank 93, pivoted to the bracket 94. The slider is moved by the button 48 through the connecting rod 9.5, the arms 96 and 98 secured to the pivot 97, and the rod 100, the pivot 97 being supported by the bracket 99 secured to the side11 of panel 21, and extend through I the casing. In this case, however, hinged valves 83 with springs 84 are provided 4toautomaticall restore communication between the c. amber 18 and the bellows 19 when the vacuum in the chamber falls below that in the bellows. a

In Figs. 7 and 8 modified forms of the invention are shown, operated by neumatic means. In Fig. 7, the wedge 34 w lich opens the valve 26 has attached t-o it a rod 101 which passes through the top of the bellows 19 and is connected to the movable leaf of a motor pneumatic 102 secured in a suitable position near the top of the instrument. 'A' primary box 103'has'pallets 107 and 108 se- 8p cured to the stem 104 of the button 48.. l When the button is depressed the motor 102 is exhausted through the tube 105 by means of the tube 106 which may connect with the bellows 19 or with the exhaust supplv in any 85;? suitable or' convenient manner. lThe diaphragm 109 having atmospheric pressure on one side of it, and a artlal vacuum on the other side, operates 1n place of a spring to. return the button 48 to its normal position, as soon as the button is released. Springs placed in the interior of the motor 102, or 1n any other suitable position, return the wedge 34 to its normal position as soon as the motor 102 is cut off from the exhaust.

In Fig. 8 the motor pneumatic -11-1 is secured inside the bellows 19 upon the anel 21, and has a link 116 connecting it wit i the valve 115. The interior'of the motor 1H is y connected by means of the passage 117 and 100 the tube 118 with a primary box similar to that of Fig. 7, the exhaust pipe 11.9 of the primary 113 being shown in this case as directly connected with the bellows 19. When the button 48 1s in its normal position the' 105 bellows A114 is expanded since it has atmospheric pressure inside and is surrounded by the partial vacuum in the bellows`19, thus holdingthe valve ll'open against the pressure of the spring 120. When the button 48 -110 is depressed the interior of the motor 114 is exhausted, thus equalizing the pressure on both sides of it, and thus permitting the spring 120 to close the valve 115. In its deliated condition the motor 114 affords no' 115 resistance to the opeifing and closing of thc I valve 115. I i

l The embodiments of this invention herein shown and described are t'hosc which are believed. to be best suited to the manner in 120 which the pneumatic devices of piano players are now most commonly. constructed and arranged. In such instruments, conipactness and directncss ol action are important considerations :V hence in these cmbodi'ments, the pumping bellows and the n`on-collapsible chamber, and the equalizing reservoir are shown as being placed side by side and connected by passages leading di rectly from one to the other. The flexible panel ordside' vvall'` 2l as herein' shown is .utilizedas the'l partition between the noncontrols'that passage may be placed at any i5 .convenient point 1n the connecting tubing; maythus be removed entirely from the interior of the storage reservoir. many lotheivvagfs`-which will suggest themselves to those familiar With this art, the embodiment fla-:herein shown may be modified'in construction, arrangement and relative position, to suit diiierent environments creto suit various conditions of' service.

I'claim as my invention :--N

- 1 In a pneumatic player for musical instruments, the combination of an .air pump,

V"a'resiliently contractible but non-cr'illapsible.

chamben an equalizing reservoir communi- 'eating with the chamber, check valve ar- .anged to'open and close the said communication automatically under the control of Ltne'preponderating air pressure in the chamyaear1clthe reservoir, respeiively, and means f the check` valve. -2 n a pneumatic player for musical instruments, the combination of an air pump,

a resiliently contractible but non-collapsible ainfchamber, an equalizing reservoir commu- -vicating Withthe said chamber, and means foropening and closing the said communica.- tion. 3. In a pneumatic player for musical inst-ruments, the combination of an air pump, a non-collapsible chamber provided with a Wall having a substantialdegree of resiliency, an equalizing reservoir communicating with 'the said chamber, a valve arranged to close the vsaid communication from the reservoir I vside thereof whereby it is automatically opened by excess of pressure in the chamber, -and `manu,ally operated means for interrupt- -ing and restoring the' free operation of the check valve, Li.A In a pneumatic player for musical instrumeiits, @the combination with the cxhaust passages thereof, of' vanair pump, a 4non-collapsible chamber provided with a T Wall having a substantial degree of resiliency, an equalizing reservoir7 andmeans for opening and closing communication between the equalizingfreservoir and the said passages.

"5'. In apneu'mafic player for musicalm-` struments, thecombinationof an air pipiip teri'up'ting and restpri g the free operaand exhaust passages, anjequalizing reser-` eaass? l voir separated from the said passages by a Wall having a substantial degree of resilience,

manually controlled means for releasing the valve to permit its free normal action.

`6. In a pneumatic player Afor musical instruments, the combination of an air pump, a substantially non-collapsible air chamber communicating' therewith, an equalizing reservoir separated from the said-chamber by a resiliently flexible Wall, provided with an opening communicating between the reservoir and the chamber, a check valve yieldingly closing the said opening, means for holding the said valve open during the ordinary playing of unaccented notes, and manually controlled means for releasing the valve at the will of the operator, to permit its free normal action.

7. In a pneumatic player for musical instruments, the combination of an air pump, a non-collapsible chamber communicating therewith, an equalizing reservoir, means for opening and closing communicaticin between.

the chamber and reservoir and a relatively ing therewith, an equalizing reservoir, means forl opening and closing communication between the chamber and the reservoir, and a relatively small air passage communicating between the reservoir and the air pump independently ci' the chamber.

9. In a pneumatic player for musical instruments, the combination oi' an air pump, a non-collapsible air chamber communicating with the pump and provided with a wall having a substantial degree oi' resiliency, an equalizing reservoir, means for opening and closing communication between the reservoir and the chamber including a checlrvalve arranged to be closed by preponderance of air pressure in the reservoir over the pressure inthe chamber, and means under the control of the operator l'or interrupting and restoring the l'ree operation of the valve.

l0. ln a pneumatic player i'or musical instruments, the combination of an air pump, a resiliently contractible but non-collapsing chamber communicating With the pump, an

eolualizing reservoir communicating with. the

chamber by an air passage, as ring-pressed iio valve normallyfopferating to c ose the said passage fromthe `reservoir side, and exter- 'nally controlled meansl'or interrupting and restoring the free operation oi .the valve. U

l11.. Thecombination with a pneumatic 1n.-

ent Wall, some `portions of which'- are pro-` vided with a flexible' connection with the ether Walls of the chamber and other portions of which are provided With a plurality of substantially unyielding supports to render thesaid air chamber, substantially non-coly lapsible 13. In a pneumatic player for musical instruments, the combination of` pumping means, a substantially non-collapsible air chamber connected therewith having a resilient Wall inilexibly secured at one edge and joined along its other edges to the other walls .of the chamber by a flexible casing, and means for unyieldingly supporting the resilient Wall at a plurality ol' separated points remote from the ini'lexible edge.

1'4. in a pneumatic player for musical instruments, the combination with the pneu,- matic system thereof, of pumping means, a substantially nori e collapsible airchamber connected*therewith having a resilient Wall inflexibly secured at one'edge and joined along its other edges to the other Walls ol' the chamber by a ilexible casing, means for unyieldingly supporting the resilient Wall at a plurality of separated 'points remote from the inflexible edge, equalizing devices, air passages connecting the pumping means, the chamber, and the equalizing devices to the pneumatic system, and means for closing the communication between the pneumatic system and the equalizing devices.` l

l5. In a pneumatic player for musical'instrument-s, the combination With the pneumatic system thereof, of pumping means, equalizing devices, a substantially non-collapsible air-chamber disposed between the pumping means andl the equalizing devices, said chamber having a resilient Wall inilexibly secured along one edge and joined along its other edges to the other Walls of the chamber by a ilexible casing means for unyield ingly supporting' the resilient Wall at a plurality of separated points remote. from the inflexible edge, air passages connecting the chamberwith the .pneumatic system, the pumping means, and the equalizing devices, and means for closing the communication 4between the chamber and the equalizing devices. A

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

JAMES OCONNOR. Titnesses Gno. D. ANDREWS, WALTER HAMPTON. 

